No. 293 Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 293 Squadron was a Royal Air Force
air-sea rescue
squadron. During the second world war the unit operated search and rescue missions for Allied aircraft operating over Italy.
, North Africa on 28 November 1943 with the Vickers Warwick
in the air-sea rescue
role. After providing detachments into Italy the squadron moved to Pomigliano, Italy
in March 1944. In April 1944 the Warwicks were supplemented by Supermarine Walrus
flying boats. In March 1945 the squadron moved to Foggia
, but moved back to Pomigliano in June where it stayed until it was disbanded on the 5 April 1946.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
air-sea rescue
Air-sea rescue
Air-sea rescue is the coordinated search and rescue of the survivors of emergency water landings as well as people who have survived the loss of their sea-going vessel. ASR can involve a wide variety of resources including seaplanes, helicopters, submarines, rescue boats and ships...
squadron. During the second world war the unit operated search and rescue missions for Allied aircraft operating over Italy.
History
No. 293 Squadron was formed at RAF BlidaBlida Airport
Blida Airport is an airport in Blida, Algeria .On November 8th, 1942, during World War II, the airport was taken by the British 11th Infantry Brigade. The event was part of the Operation Torch of the North African Campaign.Major A...
, North Africa on 28 November 1943 with the Vickers Warwick
Vickers Warwick
The Vickers Warwick was a multi-purpose British aircraft used during the Second World War. Built by Vickers-Armstrongs at Brooklands, Surrey, the Warwick was used by the Royal Air Force as a transport, air-sea rescue and maritime reconnaissance platform, and by the civilian British Overseas...
in the air-sea rescue
Air-sea rescue
Air-sea rescue is the coordinated search and rescue of the survivors of emergency water landings as well as people who have survived the loss of their sea-going vessel. ASR can involve a wide variety of resources including seaplanes, helicopters, submarines, rescue boats and ships...
role. After providing detachments into Italy the squadron moved to Pomigliano, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in March 1944. In April 1944 the Warwicks were supplemented by Supermarine Walrus
Supermarine Walrus
The Supermarine Walrus was a British single-engine amphibious biplane reconnaissance aircraft designed by R. J. Mitchell and operated by the Fleet Air Arm . It also served with the Royal Air Force , Royal Australian Air Force , Royal Canadian Air Force , Royal New Zealand Navy and Royal New...
flying boats. In March 1945 the squadron moved to Foggia
Foggia Airfield Complex
The Foggia Airfield Complex was a series of World War II military airfields located within a radius of Foggia, in the Province of Foggia, Italy...
, but moved back to Pomigliano in June where it stayed until it was disbanded on the 5 April 1946.
Aircraft operated
| From | To | Aircraft | Variant | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 1943 | April 1946 | Vickers Warwick Vickers Warwick The Vickers Warwick was a multi-purpose British aircraft used during the Second World War. Built by Vickers-Armstrongs at Brooklands, Surrey, the Warwick was used by the Royal Air Force as a transport, air-sea rescue and maritime reconnaissance platform, and by the civilian British Overseas... |
ASR Mk.I | Twin-engined bomber operated in the search and rescue role. |
| April 1944 | April 1946 | Supermarine Walrus Supermarine Walrus The Supermarine Walrus was a British single-engine amphibious biplane reconnaissance aircraft designed by R. J. Mitchell and operated by the Fleet Air Arm . It also served with the Royal Air Force , Royal Australian Air Force , Royal Canadian Air Force , Royal New Zealand Navy and Royal New... |
Mks.I, II | Single pusher-engined biplane rescue amphibian. |
Squadron bases
| From | To | Base | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 1943 | December 1943 | RAF Blida Blida Airport Blida Airport is an airport in Blida, Algeria .On November 8th, 1942, during World War II, the airport was taken by the British 11th Infantry Brigade. The event was part of the Operation Torch of the North African Campaign.Major A... , Algeria Algeria Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab... |
|
| December 1943 | March 1944 | RAF Bone Rabah Bitat Airport Rabah Bitat Airport , formerly known as Les Salines Airport, and popularly as El Mellah Airport is an international airport located 9 km south of Annaba, a city in Algeria... , Algeria |
Det. at Pomigliano, Italy Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... |
| March 1944 | March 1945 | Pomigliano, Italy | Dets. all over the Italian coast |
| March 1945 | June 1945 | Foggia Foggia Airfield Complex The Foggia Airfield Complex was a series of World War II military airfields located within a radius of Foggia, in the Province of Foggia, Italy... , Italy |
Dets. at Tortoreto Tortoreto Tortoreto is a small town, pop. 7,836, on the Adriatic sea in Italy. It has two distinct parts. The old town is on a hill not far from the Adriatic and the new part, usually referred to as Tortoreto Lido, is seaside and located on SS 16. It can be reached by direct rail service or by flying to... , Italy; Udine Udine Udine is a city and comune in northeastern Italy, in the middle of Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, between the Adriatic sea and the Alps , less than 40 km from the Slovenian border. Its population was 99,439 in 2009, and that of its urban area was 175,000.- History :Udine is the historical... , Italy and Cesenatico Cervia Air Force Base Cervia Air Force Base is an air base of the Italian Air Force . It is located in northern Italy, approximately southwest of Cervia, in the province of Ravenna .... , Iatly |
| June 1945 | April 1946 | Pomigliano, Italy |
Commanding officers
| From | To | Name |
|---|---|---|
| November 1943 | October 1944 | S/Ldr. Squadron Leader Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these... R.W. Pye |
| October 1944 | August 1945 | S/Ldr. W.R. Gellatly, RNZAF Royal New Zealand Air Force The Royal New Zealand Air Force is the air arm of the New Zealand Defence Force... |
| August 1945 | April 1946 | S/Ldr. R.J. Cruttenden |